2023 European Champions Cup: Day 4
On the fourth day it was time for the semi-finals. One of the semi-finals was an all Dutch one between HCAW from Bussum and Amsterdam Pirates. After Amsterdam Pirates had the lead most of the game, the team from Bussum walked off as the victor.
Amsterdam Pirates 3 – 4 HCAW
Amsterdam Pirates opened the score very quickly, as Denzel Richardson hit a solo shot to center field in the first inning. In the following inning, Luca Pastor homered to right center field and took Duco Nuijten with him.
In the bottom of the second inning, HCAW got on the board when Jair van Borkulo scored on a double hit by Max Draijer.
For the change, workhorse Dennis Burgersdijk was the pitcher that gave up the three runs to Pirates. Manager Rombley had to make a difficult choice. Should he save his ace for the final, or should he use him to reach that final? He opted for the second option. It proved to be a smart move as Lars Huijer kept Pirates on a leash. In eight innings, he allowed only one run, walked one and struck out eight.
In the fifth inning, HCAW would cut Pirates’ lead in half when, with the bases loaded, Jeandro Tromp scored on a fielder’s choice that wasn’t executed right.
Eventually, in the eighth inning, HCAW tied the game when Delano Selassa singled to center field and drove in Max Draijer.
Nether team scored in the ninth, so the fans got some free baseball.
Pirates didn’t manage to take advantage of the runner that was placed on second base. HCAW, on the other hand, did. Julian Goins bunted over Bob van der Meer to third base on a sac bunt. Then Pirates intentionally walked the next two batters, to load the bases. But one poor pitch by Pim Vijfvinkel cost Pirates the win, as he hit Kevin Dirksen with a pitch in an anticlimactic end of the game.
Lars Huijer pitched the aforementioned gem for the win, Pim Vijfvinkel took the loss after 2.1 innings in which he gave up one unearned run on two hits and four walks, as he struck out four. 
The best hitter for HCAW was Max Draijer, who went 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Thanks to this win, HCAW will face Parmaclima in tomorrow’s final. Parmaclima brushed aside Bonn Capitals in seven innings: 13-3. Pirates will face the Capitals in the bronze medal game.
Other results of today:
Rouen Huskies 1 – 6 Draci Brno
Untouchables Paderborn 5 – 7 Arrows Ostrava
Tomorrow, Rouen will face Paderborn in the relegation game.
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